STETHS claim 24th title

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) wrapped up their 24th hold on the Grace ISSA rural Headley Cup cricket championship, after subjecting first-time finalists Tacky High to a 363-run defeat at Alpart Sports Club, Nain, St Elizabeth, yesterday.

Captain Paul Palmer Jr (104 not out) and Man-of-the-Man Burton cashed in for an unbroken 130-run partnership, as the champions batted until 2:15 before declaring on 258. In the process, Palmer collected his third century in a Headley Cup final.

Tacky, set 418 for victory, played without focus to recklessly cave in for a mere 55 in 26 overs.

Five players failed to trouble the scorer, with only left-hander Alwayne Williams showing any degree of application, in his top score of 28.

STETHS's spinners again did most of the damage, with off-spinner Horane Linton bagging four for 11 and leg-spinner Cassius Burton Jr snaring three for 19. In fact, Burton, who scored 49 in the first innings, finished with outstanding match figures of nine for 34, having taken six for 15 in Tacky's first innings of 71.

'wonderful feeling'

"The feeling is wonderful," STETHS's coach Clive Legister told The Gleaner. "This year has been an intriguing one because of so many things the team had to go through. We had a broken leg, hand, concussion, back injuries and even this final, we lost three players at various times."

"I thought we were in the game when we dismissed them for 231, but we needed John to be there at least one more day. We played bad cricket though, but Tacky will learn from this," said Tacky's coach, Jefferson Meeks.